Pin resetting unit for bowling games



Jan. 28, 1941. .1. H. WARNER PIN RESET'IING UNIT FOR BOWLING GAMEQOriginal Filed Aug. 9, 1938 12 133 17 fig! 1% Jjoe li ar INVENTOR.

MZZW 19 ATTORNEY. I

, 4 v 2,229,712 P TENT omen 2,229,712 rm aEsn'r'riNG UNIT FOR Bowman 9GAMES H. Warner, Chicago, Ill., assignor, Qby mesnei I h assignments, toR. W. Hood, Chicago, Ill.

Original application August 9, 1999, senar'No.

Divided and this application Novemher 1, 1939, Serial No. 302,275

3 Claims. (01.273-44) This invention relates to amusement apparatus andis a division of my copending application, Serial No. 289,153, filedAugust 9, 1939, which has matured into Patent No. 2,181,984.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of pin settingand score control means for use in a miniature bowling game.

A more particular object is the provision of pin setting means includinga vertical support and a plurality of bowling pins each suspended fromthe support by an overhead cable, each cable having attached to the freeend thereof a vertically movable counterweight tending to raise thecorresponding pin from the bowling alley.

Another object is the provision of improved magnetic means forattracting the several pins in lowered position in the alley, the pinsbeing automatically raised by action of their counterweights when themagnetic attraction is broken by impact of the bowling ball with thepin.

Another object is the provision of score control means including aplurality of switches each mounted to be operated by one of thecounterweight members in lowering movement to hoist the correspondingpin when the latter is struck.

Still another object is the provision of resetting means including acommon vertically movable resetting bar underlying all of thecounterweights and reciprocated by a motor to lift the counterweightsand lower the pins into the alley for seizure by the magnetic means.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention relate tocertain details of construction, as well as the functional relationshipof the various parts of the resetting structure, including the verticalsupport, pin racking device and shield, means for supporting theswitches, and the construction and operation of the common resettingmeans, all of which will become more apparent as the followingdescription proceeds in view of the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the pin setting structure including afragment of the bowling alley;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the counterweight and switchdevices viewed along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through one of the.

pins and magnetic attracting devices, drawn to enlarged scale, and asviewed along line 33 in Fig. 1.

The pin resetting unit, as shown in Fig. 1,

being to dispose the pins in their proper spaced relationship andpattern when in raised condition so that they will automatically lowerinto ap-" proximately proper position At the top of the laterallyprojecting shield memberfll3 are a plurality of rod members l'l eachhaving formed thereinia plurality of circumferential grooves llconstituting guideways for cords or cables l8 each attached to one ofthe pins It. The free end portions of the cables are each led downwardlyfor connection in a sleeve portion l9, threaded as at 20,-onto the upperend portion of a counterweight rod 2|, the several rods each being of aweight adequate to raise the corresponding pin.

The several counterweight rods 28 aresupported for vertical movement inalignment with their corresponding cables by across rod 22 secured tothe posts l0 andby a horizontally extending switch mounting shelf 23also fixed on the posts Ill.

At their lower endseach of the counterweight rods rests on a commoncrossbar 24 which is formed as an ofiset of a vertical apron 25 slidablymounted as at 26 on the posts I0. Thus, by moving the apron'25 or thecommon crossbar portion 24 vertically, all of the counterweight rods 2|will be raised with a consequent lowering of each of the correspondingpins.

Means for raising the several counterweight rods as aforesaid to lower,and hence reset, the pins, includes a motor 3|! mounted on the panelportion l l and provided with an eccentric 3| having a stud portion 32(Fig. 2) which underlies the common resetting or crossbar portion 24 ofthe apron 25 and is adequate to elevate the latter when the motor isenergized. It may be observed also that the eccentric 3l is providedwith certain commutating contact portions 3la cooperating with wipercontacts 33 for connection in a control circuit related to the automaticresetting operation and ball elevating means, not shown in thisapplication, but disclosed in the aforesaid copending application.

It may=be further observed that the shelf portion 23 provides a supportas at 34 for a vertically reciprocable ball elevating tube 35 which isadapted to be actuated by a mechanism (not shown) to elevate a bowlingball into position for gravitation down a ball return runway 36 on thebowling alley 31, the ball subsequently being propelled at the tenpinsin their lowered condition in an eifort to strike as many of the pins aspossible and effect elevation of the same from the alley by operation ofthe counterweights 2|.

Means for releasably securing the several bowling pins in the alleyincludes the provision of a corresponding number of permanent magnets 40(Fig. 3) which are preferably made from rod stock having suitablephysical properties for permanent magnetization, short pieces of thestock being cut to provide the magnets 40, which are slotted, as at 4|,to provide pole pieces 42, the magnets being fitted into holes in thealley 31 with the pole pieces 42 flush with the upper surface thereof.In the bottom of each pin it, there is formed a bore 43 in which theknotted end portion of the cable is disposed and into which is threadeda magnetic screw 44, preferably of the flat-head variety, with the headportion 45 fitted flush with the bottom of the pin so that the pin mayrest firmly on the alley with the head portion 45 attracted to bridgethe pole pieces 42 of the corresponding magnet.

Score control means operably controlled by the counterweight membersincludes the provision of a plurality of switches 50 mounted on theshelf portion 23 and each having an operating spring or extension 5|disposed adjacent'one of the counterweight rods 2| for engagement byacollar portion Zia on the rod when the latter is in lowered conditionwhereby the operating member or spring 5| is moved to dispose the switchin a normal condition. It will be observed that the switches include aplurality of contact springs, some of which are in closed circuitrelationship when the switch is in normal condition, and other contactsof which are closed by movement of the operating member or spring 5|when the corresponding counterweight rod is raised. The switches 50 areintended to be connected in a score control circuit (not shown) fullydescribed in the aforesaid copending application.

In the operation of the improved pin racking and setting means, it maybe assumed that all of the pins save one have been struck and liftedinto the full line position beneath the shield or hood l3, asillustrated in Fig. 1, each pin fitting into its corresponding rackinghole l5. In this condition, the corresponding counterweight rods 2| willbe lowered with their lower ends resting on the common resetting orcrossbar 24. Since one of the pins lfia has remained in loweredposition, the corresponding rod remains in. raised position with itslower end above the resetting bar 24, as indicated in dotted lines (Fig.1).

Assuming that the pin |6a, which remains on the alley in Fig. l, were to.be struck by the bowling ball, the momentary dislodgement thereof wouldseparate the head portion 45 of the magnetic screw in the bottom thereofsuiliciently from attracted engagement with the pole pieces 42 of thecorresponding magnet, to enable the corresponding counterweight rod tolift the pin free from the attraction of the magnet.

Whether or not all of the pins have been lifted from the alley 31,resetting may be effected by energizin the motor 30 (circuit connectionsfor which constitute separate matters of invention not described orclaimed in this application) to start the eccentric 3| upon its cycle ofoperation, which is controlled by cooperation of the commutator contacts3 la and wipers 33 as an incident in the operation of the aforesaidcontrol circuit,

so that the eccentric will make one revolution, thus raising the commonresetting bar 24 and returning the same to its normally loweredcondition shown in Fig. 1. This movement of the resetting bar will raisesuch of the counterweight rods as are lowered, thus lowering thecorrespondingpins onto the alley, the pins being at-' tracted and heldin proper position by their corresponding magnets 40. When the rods IIare in lowered condition, the corresponding collar portions Ila thereonengage and depress the operating spring extensions SI of thecorresponding score control switches for the purpose heretoforementioned, such springs being permitted to restore to normal conditionwhen the rods are restored to raised condition by action of theresetting bar as aforesaid.

The various advantages andobjects of the invention may be accomplishedby modifications of the particular embodiment specifically describedherein, and it is intended that the appended claims shall include allequivalent arrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bowling game, the combination with a pin setting mechanismincluding a plurality of vertically reciprocable counterweight rods eachconnected by overhead cable means to a bowling pin which is lowered onto an alley when the corresponding rod is in raised position, of scorecontrol means including a horizontal plaform extending opposite saidrods, and a plurality of leaf spring switches on said platform andadapted for connection in a scorecontrol circuit, said switches eachhaving an elongated operating member projecting in a radial directiontoward one of said rods, and means on said rods operatively engageablewith the operating member of the corresponding switch responsive toaxial movement of the rods.

2. In a bowling game, in combination, pin setting and score controlmeans including an upright rack adapted for mounting adjacent a bowlingalley, a plurality of counterweight, rods mounted in side by sidealignment for vertical movement in said rack and each connected byoverhead cable means to a tenpin adapted to be lowered and releasablyheld on said alley responsive to upward movement of the correspondingrod, 2. common resetting member underlying all of said rods and meansfor effecting reciprocation of said resetting member for the purpose oflowering said tenpins on to said alley, a horizontal platform extendingopposite said rods, switch means on saidplatform and means including alateral projection on one or more of said rods for actuating said switchmeans responsive to axial displacement of the rod.

3. In a device of the class described, pin setting means including anupstanding support, a plurality of elongated counterweight rods mountedin side by side relation on said support for vertical reciprocation,each of said rods being adapted to be connected by overhead cable meanswith a bowling pin adapted to be lowered onto an alley JOE H. WARNER.

